Dyche Rues Four Minutes Of Madness

Sean Dyche was left to rue “four minutes of madness” either side of half time that defined the defeat at Leicester City.

The Clarets looked to be going in level at half time against the Champions until record £30m signing Islam Slimani headed the Foxes ahead.

The Algerian repeated the trick two minutes into the second half, before Ben Mee ended a disappointing day with an own goal 13 minutes from time.

The gaffer reflected: “It was four minutes of madness from our point of view. Two minutes before the half time we gave away a really poor free kick for their no reason and when they put the ball in the box they win the header.

“Until that point I’d been really pleased with the players. We came to slow the tempo down by keeping the ball, which is why we played the five in midfield.

“I felt that worked really well and it was only the last couple of minutes when we lost our shape and gave away a poor free kick.

“In the second half it’s a poor ball from us and they break away, get four bobbles on the trot and it hits their lad on the head and goes in.

“At 2-0 down here, to the Premier League champions, it’s difficult then!”

Jeff Hendrick replaced Sam Vokes in the starting line up as the Clarets looked to stifle Claudio Ranieri’s side.

Dyche explained: “We came here with a game plan that we thought could help us and although we didn’t create too much we thought it worked well.

“We went in scratching our heads and the team talk had to change considerably at half time.

“In the second half you are two minutes in and 2-0 down and it’s tough. They are good players and with a 2-0 lead, guess what happens... they start playing better.

“Goals change the psychology and they then controlled large parts of the second half. It’s a different level in the Premier League and when sides get their tails up they are hard to break down.

“We kept going and in the end I felt for Ben Mee because he was absolutely outstanding today.

“It’s an own goal trying to do the right thing, but he and Michael Keane’s performances were very good.

“But days like today are all a part of our growth. We are trying to get results and develop a side to get used to being in the Premier League and that’s difficult.

“We have to try and learn from the last time and twist and change things accordingly, and as I said, apart from four minutes of madness, it had worked pretty well up to that point.”